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JOHN BARBIER, OF BIOSTN, MASSACHUSETTS. l Lettere Patent No. 72,961, Aelated January 7,' 1868.

IMPROVED FASTENING FOR SHOES.

TO ALLNVHOMIT MAY CONCERN;

Be it known that I, JOHN BARBIER, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Fasteningfor Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to thepaccompanying drawings, making part 0f this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a plan of my improved fastening, closed.

Figure 2 is a plan of the same, open.

Figure 3 is a section on the line'fv a: of iig. 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line y yV of fig. 1.

The object of my invention is to lace and unlace a boot or shoe in a convenient and expeditious' manner, without the liability of the lacing being soon Worn out by friction, as is the easewith the ordinary methods'nour in use; and my-invention consists in a series of rolls, the bearings of which are secured to the edges of the opening in the boot or shoe, or to'plates or strips attached'thereto, the lacing passing-over-these rolls, so that, `when it is drawn in either direction, in the operationiof putting-on or removing the boot or shoe, the rolls Will be revolved, and the friction and wear o'n the'lacing, in a great measure, consequently avoided.

To-euable others skilled in the art to understand and 'use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A is a portion'ofthe f upper of a hoot or shoe, open from a to the ankle at To each side of this opening is-seeured a strip of metal,B, hinged at 5, slots being provided therein for thepassage of tongue-portions, c, of the side of the appel-f. under which they are turned, and to which they are attached by sewing. C are bent arms or plates, (of the form shown,) the inner ends of which are secured, at to( the strips B. Between4 each strip B, and the youter ends of the plates C, secured thereto, pass short stationary-pins, e, which serve as shafts, upon which rolls,f, are made to revolve when the lacing g is drawn in yeither direction in the operation of putting on or removing the bootv or shoe, whereby the .edges of the strips B 'may be quickly drawn together-or separated without the usual friction, and without the wearing of the -lacing,`incident to the ordinary method of fastening boots and shoes. v v

VIn using' a'boot' or shoe of my'impvroved construction, the upper ends of the lacing need never be drawn downbelow the upper rollsf, and, being always at hand ready to be grasped, the operation of lacing is very much facilitated. I Y

The above-described improvement can'be removed from an old pair of shoes and fitted to a newpair, or it 'may be readily fitted to a pair of shoes already made in the ordinary Way. Instead of securing the strips B, with their rolls f,v at the top of the upper," they may be placed at the side thereof, without departing from the'spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, 'and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The bent arms or plates C, when constructed and attachedl as set forth, in combination with the entire strips B, as herein described, as and for the purpose set forth:

` JOHN BARBIER.

Witnesses:

P. E. TEscnnMAoHnn, N. W. STnAnNs. 

